Electric Bicycles

E-bikes & Law

European Union directive 2002/24/EC exempts vehicles with the following definition from type approval: “Cycles with pedal assistance which are equipped with an auxiliary electric motor having a maximum continuous rated power of 0.25 kW (250 W), of which the output is progressively reduced and finally cut off as the vehicle reaches a speed of 25 km/h or if the cyclist stops pedaling.” This is the de facto definition of an electrically assisted pedal cycle in the EU. As with all EU directives, individual member countries of the EU are left to implement the requirements in national legislation.

European product safety standard EN 15194 was published in 2009. The aim of EN 15194 is “to provide a standard for the assessment of electrically powered cycles of a type which are excluded from type approval by Directive 2002/24/EC”.